Mike, The 1880 index yielded no Matilda in the census; Here's all I find: (1880 Fayette Co., WV, Kanawha District): Richard McMillion, 24, farmer, VA/VA/VA Mary 24, wife, VA/VA/VA Alice, 4, daughter, WV/VA/VA Mollie, 1 daughter, WV/VA/VA As for obtaining a death record, well, that's usually a hit and miss proposition until a short time after 1920 since deaths weren't required by state law to be recorded until then. Even a short time after that they were done sporadically. Anything before that time would just be a lucky find I would say -- because it depended on whether a relative or neighbor went to the courthouse to record the death or if the clerk even bothered to record it. They do have births and deaths throughout those early years, but not for every year and not for every event. Your best bet would be to write to the County Clerk to see if they have it. Good luck in your search, Neva In a message dated 7/31/01 10:07:06 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << I would like to be able to find a death record for Richard who died of stomach cancer in 1904. Richard's mother Matilda would have lived there with him too as their place of residence was listed as Fayette County on his marriage certificate in 1876. Would someone with the 1880 Fayette Census be so kind as to look them up for me? I would be forever grateful! Also what would be the chance of finding a death certificate for Richard? Would the Fayette Courthouse have records back that far? Thanks again for any and all help. Mike McMillion >>